Quinoa and spicy Red Cabbage salad in a Jar

Quinoa pronounced as "keen-wah"  is a seed, not a grain and it’s grown high in the Andes Mountains of South America. It is a species of goosefoot (Chenopodium) .It is packed nutrients including all eight essential amino acids. It is gluten and wheat free too and has the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Quinoa by itself tastes rather bland but it is great when flavoured with spices, herbs, nuts and vegetables.

Together with grains, seeds and nuts there are many foods such as fruits and vegetables that are good for a healthy diet and to give you healthy teeth too. Foods like salmon, purple cabbage, ginger, green tea and water are good for healthy teeth .Try and avoid alcohol, sweets, refined carbohydrates, dyes and  consume berries and beetroot in moderation as they tend to stain the teeth unless you brush your teeth immediately after eating them. Simply health are promoting "Eating for a healthy smile"  I have created this recipe using ingredients that are healthy for your teeth and I am entering this recipe  to the Simply health Healthy smile competition.

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Quinoa and Spicy Red Cabbage Salad in a Jar

by Nayna Kanabar 3rd October 2014

Beautiful and Vibrant layered salad with aromatic flavours and textures.

Ingredients:

Layer 1

• 1 Small white onion
• 120g Red Cabbage finely shredded
• 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon Olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Fresh ginger paste

Layer 2

• 1 Medium carrot
• 1 tablespoon Dried Cranberries
• 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
• 1 small pinch Salt
• 1 small pinch Black pepper

Layer 3

• 1/4 cup Quinoa
• 1 cup Water
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Fresh chopped Coriander
• 1 pinch Turmeric

Layer 4

• 1 Gem lettuce
• 1/4 Pepper yellow
• 1/4 Peppers red

Method:

Layer 1 -Spicy Cabbage 
1. Add the oil in a pan, when it is hot add the onions and sauté for 1 minute.Next add the cabbage,ginger paste salt, chilli powder and lemon juice and toss the cabbage for 5-6 minutes until it softens but is al dente.Remove from heat and cool.
Layer 2-Carrot and Cranberry Salad 
2. Grate the carrot and add it to a bowl, add the cranberries, salt, pepper and lemon juice and toss together. Keep aside
Layer 3- Quinoa and Coriander Salad 
3. Add the quinoa to apan and add the water. Add the salt and turmeric and bring to boil. Once water begins to boil, reduce the heat and cook the Quinoa for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed and Quinoa is cooked. Transfer the cooked quinoa to a bowl and wait for it to cool. Add the chopped coriander and mix together.
Layer 4- Green Salad 
4. Shred the gem lettuce and finely slice the peppers, Mix together and keep aside.
Layering the salad.In a kilner jar with a large mouth, add a layer of the spicy cabbage, pack it down. Add a layer of the carrot and cranberry mixture and pack it down. Next add the layer of Quinoa mixture and pack it down. Finally add a layer of the green salad.

Details

Prep time: 20 hour Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 40 mins Yield: Serves 2